Thermo-electric generator.



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THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

APatented .|u |y I5, |902.

, (Application led Oct. 21,1901.) l ("0 "0W- 2 sheets-shut 'ma' mams PETERS co.. PMoTaLlrHo.. wAsmnm'nu. n, c.

Nb.; 7o4,s9s. Patenten my l5, 1902.

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' THEBMD-ELECTBIG ENERTR.4

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UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE CHARLES" B. THWING, OF SYRACUSE, NEWYORK, ASSIGNORTO'LOUIS LANGVILLE, OFl NEW`YORK, N. Y.

THERMO-ELECTRIC' GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters' Patent No. 704,596, dated July 15, 1902. Application filed October 21,1901. Serial No. 79,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. THWING,

of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new, original, and useful Improvement in Thermo-Electric Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin the construction of electric generators rin which the current is generated by variations in the temperature of thermo-electric couples 'I shall now describe myinvention, so that v others skilled in the art to which it appertains may manufacture and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved thermo-electric generator on the line I I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isa horizontal'` cross-sectionof the same on the line Il II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line III Illof Fig.` 1, the thermo-electric elements being omitted. Fig. 4. is a detail viewr of the burner detached. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the parts constituting oneof the electric couples, showing also aside view of the insulator which Itemploy at the heatingjoints to insulate thev couples fromeach other.

Fig. 6 is a detail view insection of two couples at the heating-joint.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each. l

In the drawings, 2 indicates .the burner frame or stand Y carrying the burner 3, the burner being provided with lianges 4 4, Vby which it is secured to the sides 5 5 of the generator-casing by bolts 6 6, the sides 5 5 being suitably connected to 'or forming part of the burner-frame 2. At thetop along each outer edge of the frame 2 is arranged a strip 7 of insulating material, and supported by rods 0r plates 8, also bolted to the sides 5 5, are insulating-strips 9 9. Supported by and resting on the insulating-strips 7 and 9 in two series, one at each side of the burner 3, is one set of the thermo-electric couples 10 of the generator, each couple of said series being provided with a recess 1l, fitting over the insulating-strip 9. Each of the couples is also provided with-a recess 12'011 its upper edge, in Which is set an insulating-strip 13. A second set of couples 10' in two series, one-0n each -side of the burner, but reversely arranged and similarly provided with recesses 11 and 12, is placed on the insulating-strips 13, the two sets being separated at their ends by strips 14 of insulating material.

The chimney of theburner is formed of two plates 15 15, bolted to the sides 5 of the cas- Ying by means of flanges 15a. Each side of the chimney 15 is provided on the interior Asurfaces with a layer of asbestos 16, which is is constructed as follows: It has a body por-` tion and a laterally-projecting narrow wing 10, composed of one metal or alloy, preferably iron or steel or an alloy thereof in which iron or steel predominates. element of the couple, composed, preferably, of an alloy of nickel and copper of the chemical composition Ni3Cu2. 10,c is a' connecting or heating piece for connecting the elements 10a and 10b of the couple together at the joint intendedtobeheated. The connecting-piece 10c is provided with a projecting rivet 10d. To assemble the parts together, the part 10L is placed on the piece 10C, the :rivet 101 proj ecting through a suitably-shaped hole therein. 'Then the strip 10b is placed on the part 10,

lthe hole in the strip fitting over the rivet. The

three parts are then riveted and preferably brazed together by brass or other copper alloy, or they may be electrically welded together.

10b is the other IOO Each of the elements 10 10 has a struck-up portion 10e, into which fits and is brazed the end of the strip lOb of the adjoining couple.

17 is a piece of mica or other suitable material placed between each two adjoining couples at the heating-joint for the purpose of insulating the couples at that point from each other.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The generator is cheap in construction, high in eliiciency, compactly arranged, and consumes but little fuel. By reason of the construction of the elements and the reverse arrangement of the sets thereof relatively to each other the portions to be heated or the joints are compact and brought near to one another and close to the flame, leaving the comparatively much larger portions of the elements in the path of cooling-currents of air passing up through the generator between the outer sides of the casing and the chimney, the casing being left open at the top and bottom for this purpose.

Modifications may be made in the construction of the various parts and in their relative arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention, since That I claim is- 1. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing open at top and bottom, a burner, achimney for said burner, and thermo-electric couples the joints of which project into the path of the products ot' combustion from said burner, the major portions ofthe couples being located in the casing beyond the burner; substantially as described.

2. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing open at top and bottom, a longitudinal burner, a chim ney for said burner,and thermo-electric couples on each side of said burner the joints of which project into the path of the products ot combustion from said burner, the major portions of the couples being located in the casing outside the chimney; substantially as described.

In athermo-electric generator, a burner, a casing, insulating-strips supported by the casing,and thermo-electric couples supported by said insulating-strips and having their joints to be heated situate in the path of the products of combustion from the burner; substantially as described.

4. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing open at top and bottom,a longitudinal burner, a chimney for said burner, two sets of thermoelectric couples on each side of said burner, said sets having insulating-strips between their members and between each other, the strips, chimney and sides of the casing forming a heating-chamber above the burner, the joints of the couple to be heated projecting into said heating-chamber; substantially as described.

5. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing, a burner, a series of thermo-electric couples having their minor portions as to size constituting the joints to be heated projecting into the path of the products of combustion from said burner, and their majorportions eX- tending outwardly from and below the minor portions so as to constitute small compact heating-surfaces and wide extended coolingsurfaces; substantially as described.

6. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing, a burner, a series of thermo-electric couples having their minor portions as to size constituting the joints to be heated projecting into the path of the products of combustion from said burner, and their majorportions extending outwardly t'rom and below the minor portions, and a second series of couples similarly constructed arranged above said iirst series but reversely thereto, so as to constitute small compact heating-surfaces and wide extended cooling-surfaces; substantially as described.

7. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing, a longitudinal burner, a longitudinal series of thermo-electric couples arranged on each side of said burner and having their minor portions as to size constituting the joints to be heated projecting into the path of the products of combustion from the burner and their major portions extending outwardly from and below the minor portions, and two series of couples similarly constructed arranged above said irst two series but reversely thereto, so as to constitute small compact heating surfaces and wide extended cooling-surfaces; substantially as described.

8. In a thermo-electric generator, a lower series of couples the positive elements of which are in the form of wings projecting outwardly and downwardly from the joints to be heated, and an upper series of couples similarly shaped but reversely arranged with respect to the lower series, so as to constitute small compact heating-surfaces and wide extended cooling-surfaces; substantially as described.

9. In a thermo-electric couple, a metallic positive element, and a metallic negative element differing in composition from the positive element, the two elements being riveted and brazed together at the joint by brass or other copper alloy 5 substantially as described.

10. In combination, a thermo-electric couple having a slot in one of its elements, and a second couple having a portion of one of its elements interitting with said slot, the two parts being brazed together at the joint; substantially as described.

1l. In a thermo-electric generator, a couple having a heating-joint composed of positive and negative elements riveted to a connecting-piece; substantially as described.

l2. In a thermo-electric generator, a couple having a heating-joint composed of positive and negative elements riveted and brazed to a connecting-piece substantially as described.

13. In a thermo-electric generator, a thernio-electric couple, the positive element of which has a wide extended body or cooling IOC IIO

portion and a narrow portion to be heated extending therefrom, said heating portion being provided with agroove or grooves adapted to fit 'over insulating-strips on the generatoreasing; substantially as described.

14. In a thermo-electric generator, a casing open at top and bottom,a lon gitudina-l burner,

'a chimney for said' burner, and two sets of thermo-electric couples on each side of said burner, said sets having insulating-strips between their members and between each other, the strips, chimney, and sides of the casing forming a heating-chamber above the burner, said heating-chamber being lined with asbestos andthe joints ofY said couples tobeheated projectingr intothe chamber; vsubstantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

`FEA. SAUNDERS,

E. A. EMENs.

CHARLES B. THWING. 

